| Place | Oceania: Australia, Queensland, North Queensland, Cairns |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | NEA0344 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | 3x4", Acetate, Silver Gelatin |
| Physical description | 3x4", Acetate, Silver Gelatin |
| Place made | Australia: Queensland, North Queensland, Cairns |
| Date made | 12 January 1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
RAAF Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat A24-54, coded RB-U, - a "Black Cat" [Catalina painted ...
Description
RAAF Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat A24-54, coded RB-U, - a "Black Cat" [Catalina painted operational black] - taxies out along the water before a long-range mission. A24-54 was allocated to No. 20 Squadron RAAF at the time this image was taken and was re-allocated to 112 Air Sea Rescue Flight, with which unit she was later lost.
A24-54 took part in a sea mining operation on 12 January 1944. They took off from Cairns, landed at Darwin, carried out a mining operation, returned to Darwin where they re-armed, took off from Darwin again on the 14th and returned. The operation was repeated on the 16th but A24-54 was forced to return to base due to engine trouble. (NAA Item Id: 1358750, p481)
On 6 April 1945, after landing on open water to rescue the crew of an Australian Liberator which had been shot down, A24-54 was attacked by enemy aircraft, caught fire and was lost. All but one of its crew and the survivors from the Liberator where subsequently rescued.